The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1887-04-15
NOT LOBBYISTS.

Ar Powderly Explicitly Defines the status
Of the Knights of Labor Convention In
! Session ut Harrisburg, Pa.-They Are
! Neither Lobbyists. Anarchists or the
! Friends OF Anarchy.
PITTSBURGH, Pa, April S-Tha Times
special from Harrisburg says: The
Knights of Labor convention organized
this afternoon by electing General Treas
urer Turner chairman. and g. Fl. Painter.
Of Columbia, secretary. The purport of
the gathering is best explained in two
speeches which Grand Master Workman
Powderly made-oue before the coEven-
ton and another this evening in the hall
of the House of Representatives. There
were about $50 delegates. comprising Q
fine body of men. After organization
there was secret session
in which seven committees were
appointed to which will be referred the
various bills to be considered BIZ the con-
veution- The names of the men who
compose these committees it was decided
to keep secret for reasons best known to
Mr.. Powderly. but there was 40 objection
to making public the purposes for which
the committees were named. They vii |
examine bills relating To the bituminous
and anthracite coal mines and iron min
ing industries, slate mining and agri-
culture and lumber, oil and oil production
and miscellaneous subjects
All the convention did besides routine
work was to administer the oath of
secrecy to official stenographer James F.
Burke. of Pittsburgh. and to listen to Mr..
Powderly His speech before the conven-
ton and his speech in the evening were
Identical: About 80 men and women
greeted him with hearty applause when
he entered the house. Representative
Caffrey introduced him. whereupon Mr.
Powderlv said:
It is with feeling of pride that address a
meeting gathered in the House Of Representa-
tives of my native State. on the question OF
labor. not only as IL relates to workInguen.
but in broader sense. as il relates 10 all /
feel it my duty therefore, 10 speak in regard tc
the convention here. called it to bring our
organization together through their represen-
tatives. to meet with the chosen representatives
of the people. regardless Of party, TO confer
with them on measures TO benefit our State.
We are charged with being lobbyists-a labor
lobby Mr.. Powderiy here referred to
an editorial in a Philadelphia pa er. which
makes that charge LOBBYISTS were here be-
fore Us and will be here when we are gone
but we are not here as lobbyists. We came
here 70 say to the representatives of the com
mouwealth such and such 4 measure is good
otherS are rot.
Before every election can iidates ask the
working people 10 vote for them. They say nc
SO and so and We VIII render equivalent
Having made this promise. we &c tainly have 4
right to see if that promise has been fulfil ed
! have frequently been asked Il such
AMI such bill Is GOOD
measure. AS knew nothing about the bills.
1 generally sent them to the secretary
OF the assembly in the locality where the in
curry came from In one instance I received
The reply that no such a bill hli ever beer
seen there. The title had been cut OF the orig
inaI one sent TO Harrisburg and another substt
tuted- We made up our min is that we rep
resent a good portion of the commonwealth We
had right TO see If pledges made had been full
filed. There is nothing IN this that is wrong
nothing OF the lobbyist We have no bride. &c
inducemeut TO otrer. We give YOU our reasons
why VIC ask you 70 vote for this or that meas
Ure, and leave the rest TO yourself when yOU
come home and ind You voted he wrong way
We have the right to vote for the other fellow.
Laughter and applause.1 That's the Amer
can idea. Wore laughter and applause.
We are charged with being Anarchists and
favoring measures that tend 10 Anarchy. A.
chief OF our organization. can say that moth
ing of anarchy finds an abiding place in our
midst. but monopolists want TO make people
We have committed in the past We have al
WAYS aimed at doing right. We have pursued
a line OF policy and found out things that are
right and wrong. but We always keep clear o.
one thing that brings odium on our country
anarchy.
In his afternoon speech M Powderlv
reioicei in the defeat of the Anarchists
candidate in Chicago. The applause thai
greeted this assertion was deafeniug. II
found an echo in every heart ContinV-
ing. Mr. P5wderly said:
Is it not more honorable to come here Ike
men and confer with our representatives as Il
what ought 10 be done and 90 away and say
we have rather aided than retarded work.
was proud TO meet the delegation that CAM
here to-day. II was larger than expected.
saw in that delegation a sign OF hope. Not
man was under the influence of liquor spoke
30 many. and all told me that they neither
tasted. touched nor handled liquor. o. all our
officers not one touches. tastes or handles that
which Gegrades the body and danlns the soul
liquor.
Among the bills to be presented 10 the
convention is one drawn up by Ben Butler
Assembly No. 1851, of Stoneboro. Mercer
County. and which has been sent to Mr.
Hall, of Mercer. with the request that he
introduce it. This measure is in many
respects most radical one. and if made
a law. would revolutionize things cousid-
erablv. Il compels semi-monthly pay
ments. under the following provisions.
Section one enacts that every person.
firm or corporation employing any ono
''for the profit, pleasure or any other
qualification of such person, firm or cor
poration- shall only be liable for the pay
ment of the amount of wages due for
twelve DAYS, or less labor and that the
payment of said twelve days wages shall
absolve such employing person. firm OF
cooperation for all further responsibility
for wages due previous to the date OF
such payment
The second section provides that the
amount collectable under the first section
shall be collectable from any property or
source of income of the employers. and
shall be lien upon the products of the
work or service wherever found within
the limits Of the commonwealth. the lien
TO be in force until the clam IS paid m
full, the cost in the proceedings to be
borne by the commonwealth.
The bill also provides that employers
shall be responsible for all personal il
Jury or financial loss incurred bv any en-
pleye while in the performance of h s
caused oy the negligence Of the enpIove I
ignorance on the part of the empIore /
not TO be adjudgei as negligence.
Foul Play Suspected.
LANCASTER. Pa. April .-Wed1esda7 !
morning George Welsh. a dealer in rags. !